Answer:one piece is 42 centimeters and the other piece is 14 centimeters
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the length, in centimeters, of one piece of the ribbon.
Let y represent the length, in centimeters, of the other piece of the ribbon.
The ribbon, 56 cm long is cut into two pieces. This means that
x + y = 56 - - - - -- - - - -1
One of the pieces is three times longer than the other. This means that
x = 3y
Substituting x = 3y into equation 1, it becomes
3y + y = 56
4y = 56
y = 56/4 = 14 centimeters
x = 3y = 2×14 = 42 centimeters
